The article associated with the 60 minute episode on "e-waste" fails to mention one critical fact: where are these illegal electronics coming from? Are they obtained from landfills, recycling brokers or seemingly legitimate recycling plants? I doubt the latter. There are many legal electronic recycling plants that operate within the United States and around the world. Some corporations even ask their customers to send them their old products so they can be recycled. Apple Corporation is one example, they have a recycling facility in Cupertino, CA.
Nevertheless, illegal and even some legal recycling operations damage the environment and increase the incidence of miscarriage, cancer, and other health and health related problems in the surrounding population.
What can we do to prevent this from happening?
1. Gain the maximum utility from all electronics before upgrading them. When we upgrade our cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices less often it reduces the demand for electronics and the materials needed to produce them.
2. Donate used electronics to organizations that need them. There are several organizations that need computers, cell phones, printers, and other electronics to operate. One person’s donation can make a big difference at the right organization.
3. Recycle electronics like computer monitors, computers, televisions, and cell phones if they are not reused. Earth 911 has a tool on their website that allows users to locate an electronic recycling center near them. This page from Michigan has information and resources that are universally useful.
4. Self-pat on the back for being green-conscious and public-health conscious.
5. Stop the masturbatory self-congratulation and ego-inflation by sharing new recycling habits with friends, relatives, colleagues and organizations. The more people participating, the better for health and environment.
Want to know more?
I recently learned about the Canadian artist Edward Burtynsky. He has documented recycling practices in China through photography and his film (“Manufactured Landscapes”). A selection of his photographs can be found on his website http://www.edwardburtynsky.com/. On the left hand side of the screen under the label works is a link for China. Click this link and then click the picture that has the text “Recycling” over it. His work is very compelling. Images can also be found online by searching for his name in a photo search website.
People interested in this article may also be interested in learning mercury, child labor, and the gold economy.
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